Sonam on managing an invisible disability at uni

Invisible disabilities are often unspoken of, and when they are, they are frequently misunderstood—did you know that invisible disabilities are long-term conditions and have many identities? This includes Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Lyme Disease, Crohn’s Disease and mental illnesses such as depression to name a few - affecting everyone differently and often showing no physical symptoms.

As a sufferer of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia, my symptoms include chronic joint pain, fatigue, and brain fog. Even though I’ve had both conditions since childhood, settling into adulthood with an invisible disability has not been easy - especially throughout uni. However, through trial and error, I’ve picked up some ways to manage it that might just help if you also suffer from an invisible disability.